Constitution of the Republic of Belarus of 1994

(with alterations and amendments adopted at the republican referendums of

November 24, 1996 and of October 17, 2004)

We, the People of the Republic of Belarus, (of Belarus), proceeding from the assumption of responsibility for the present and future of Belarus, recognizing ourselves as a full-fledged subject of the international community and conforming our adherence to values common toall mankind, founding ourselves on our inalienable right to self-determination, supported by the centuries-long history of development of Belarusian state-hood, striving to assert the rights and freedoms of every citizen of the Republic of Belarus, desiring to maintain civicconcord, stable foundations of government by the people and a state based on the rule of law, hereby adopt and enact this Constitution as the Fundamental Law of the Republic of Belarus.

Section 1. Principles of the Constitutional System

Article 1. The Republic of Belarus is a unitary, democratic, social state based on the rule of law.

The Republic of Belarus exercises supreme control and absolute authority over the wholeof its territory, and shall implement an independent internal and foreign policy.

The Republic of Belarus shall defend its independence and territorial integrity, its constitutional system, and safeguard legality and law and order.

Article 2. The individual, his rights, freedoms and guarantees for their attainment manifestthe supreme goal and value of society and the State.

The State shall bear responsibility towards the citizen to create the conditions for the freeand dignified development of his identity. The citizen bears a responsibility towards the Stateto discharge unwaveringly the duties imposed upon him by the Constitution.

Article 3. The people shall be the sole source of state power and the repository ofsovereignty in the Republic of Belarus. The people shall exercise their power directly throughrepresentative and other bodies in the forms and within the bounds specified by the Constitution.

Any actions aimed at changing the constitutional system and seizing state power byforcible means or by way of any other violation of the laws of the Republic of Belarus shallbe punishable by law.

Article 4. Democracy in the Republic of Belarus shall be exercised on the basis ofdiversity of political institutions, ideologies and views.

The ideology of political parties, religious or other public associations, social groups maynot be made mandatory for citizens.

Article 5. Political parties and other public associations acting within the framework of theConstitution and laws of the Republic of Belarus, shall contribute towards ascertaining andexpressing the political will of the citizens and participate in elections.

Political parties and other public associations shall have the right to use state mass mediaunder the procedure determined by the legislation.

The creation and activities of political parties and other public associations that aim tochange the constitutional system by force, or conduct a propaganda of war, social, ethnic,religious and racial hatred, shall be prohibited.

Article 6. State power in the Republic of Belarus is exercised on the principle of divisionof powers between the legislature, executive and judiciary. State bodies within the confines oftheir powers, shall be independent: they shall co-operate among themselves acting on the principle of checks and balances.

Article 7. The Republic of Belarus shall be bound by the principle of supre-macy of law.

The State and all the bodies and officials thereof shall operate within the confines of theConstitution and the laws enacted in accordance therewith.

Legal enactments or specific provisions thereof which are deemed under procedurespecified in law to be contrary to the provisions of the Constitution shall have no legal force.

Enforceable enactments of state bodies shall be published or promulgated by some meansspecified in law.

Article 8. The Republic of Belarus shall recognize the supremacy of the universally acknowledged principles of international law and ensure that its laws comply with suchprinciples.

The Republic of Belarus in conformity with principles of international law may on avoluntary basis enter interstate formations and withdraw from them.

The conclusion of international treaties that are contrary to the Constitution shall not bepermitted.

Article 9. The territory of the Republic of Belarus shall be the natural condition of theexistence and spatial limit of the people's self-determination, and the basis for its prosperity and the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus.

The territory of Belarus shall be unified and inalienable.

The territory shall be divided into regions (oblasts), districts, cities and otheradministrative-territorial units. The administrative-territorial division of the State is determined by the legislation.

Article 10. A citizen of the Republic of Belarus shall be guaranteed the protection andpatronage of the State both on the territory of Belarus and beyond.

No one may be deprived of citizenship of the Republic of Belarus or the right to change hiscitizenship.

A citizen of the Republic of Belarus may not be extradited to a foreign state, unlessotherwise stipulated in international treaties to which the Republic of Belarus is party.

Citizenship shall be acquired or lost in accordance with the law.

Article 11. Foreign nationals and stateless persons on the territory of Belarus shall enjoyrights and liberties and execute duties on equal terms with the citizens of the Republic of Belarus, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution, the laws and international treaties.

Article 12. The Republic of Belarus may grant the right of asylum to persons persecuted inother states for political or religious beliefs or their ethnic affiliation.

Article 13. Property may be the ownership of the state or private.

The State shall grant equal rights to all to conduct economic and other activities, other thanthose prohibited by law, and guarantee equal protection and equal conditions for thedevelopment of all forms of ownership.

The State shall promote the development of co-operation.

The State shall guarantee to every one equal opportunities for free utilisation of abilitiesand assets for business and other types of economic activities which are not banned by thelaw.

The State shall regulate economic activities on behalf of the individual and society, andshall ensure the direction and co-ordination of state and private economic activity for social purposes.

The mineral wealth, waters and forests are the sole and exclusive property of the State. Theland for agricultural use is the property of the State.

The law may specify facilities that may be the property of the State alone, or specify the special terms for their transition to private ownership, or grant the State an exclusive right toconduct certain types of activity.

The State shall guarantee the workers the right to participate in the management ofenterprises, organizations and establishments to enhance their efficiency and improve social

and economic living standards.

Article 14. The State shall regulate relations among social, ethnic and other communitieson the basis of the principles of equality before the law and respect of their rights and interests.

The relations in the social sphere and in labour between the organs of state management,associations of employers and trade unions shall be exercised on the principles of socialpartnership and interaction of parties.

Article 15. The State shall bear responsibility for preserving the historic, cultural andspiritual heritage, and the free development of the cultures of all the ethnic communities thatlive in the Republic of Belarus.

Article 16. Religions and faiths shall be equal before the law.

Relations between the State and religious organizations shall be regulated by the law withregard to their influence on the formation of the spiritual, cultural and state traditions of theBelarusian people.

The activities of confessional organizations, their bodies and representatives, that aredirected against the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus, its constitutional system and civicharmony, or involve a violation of civil rights and liberties of its citizens as well as impede the execution of state, public and family duties by its citizens or are detrimental to their healthand morality shall be prohibited.

Article 17. The Belarusian and Russian languages shall be the official languages of theRepublic of Belarus

Article 18. In its foreign policy the Republic of Belarus shall proceed from the principlesof the equality of states, the non-use of force or the threat of force, the inviolability offrontiers, the peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in internal affairs of states and other universally acknowledged principles and standards of international law.

The Republic of Belarus pledges itself to make its territory a neutral, nuclear-free state.

Article 19. The symbols of the Republic of Belarus as a sovereign state shall be its national flag, national emblem and national anthem.

Article 20. The capital of the Republic of Belarus is the city of Minsk. The status of thecity of Minsk shall be determined by the law.

Section 2. The Individual, Society and the State

Article 21. Safeguarding the rights and liberties of the citizens of the Republic of Belarusshall be the supreme goal of the State.

Every individual shall exercise the right to a dignified standard of living, includingappropriate food, clothing, housing and likewise a continuous improvement of necessaryliving conditions.

The State shall guarantee the rights and liberties of the citizens of Belarus that areenshrined in the Constitution and the laws, and specified in the state's international obligations.

Article 22. All shall be equal before the law and entitled without discrimination to equalprotection of their rights and legitimate interests.

Article 23. Restriction of personal rights and liberties shall be permitted only in the instances specified in law, in the interest of national security, public order, the protection ofthe morals and health of the population as well as rights and liberties of other persons. No onemay enjoy advantages and privileges that are contrary to the law.

Article 24. Every person shall have the right to life.

The State shall protect the life of the individual against any illegal infringements.

Until its abolition, the death sentence may be applied in accordance with the law as anexceptional penalty for especially grave crimes and only in accordance with the verdict of acourt of law.

Article 25. The State shall safeguard personal liberty, inviolability and dignity. Therestriction or denial of personal liberty is possible in the instances and under the procedure specified in law.

A person who has been taken into custody shall be entitled to a judicial investigation intothe legality of his detention or arrest.

No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or undignified treatment or punishment, or be subjected to medical or other experiments without one's consent.

Article 26. No one may be found guilty of a crime unless his guilt is proven under theprocedure specified in law and established by the verdict of a court of law that has acquired legal force. A defendant shall not be required to prove one's innocence.

Article 27. No person shall be compelled to be a witness against oneself, members of one'sfamily or next of kin. Evidence obtained in violation of the law shall have no legal force.

Article 28. Everyone shall be entitled to protection against unlawful interference withone's private life, including encroachments on the privacy of one's correspondence andtelephone and other communications, and on one's honour and dignity.

Article 29. The right of the people to be secure in their houses and other legitimate effectsshall be guaranteed. No person shall have the right, save in due course of law to enter thepremises or other legal property of a citizen against one's will.

Article 30. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall have the right to move freely andchoose their place of residence within the Republic of Belarus, to leave it and to return to itwithout hindrance.

Article 31. Everyone shall have the right independently to determine one's attitude towards religion, to profess any religion individually or jointly with others, or to profess none at all, toexpress and spread beliefs connected with one's attitude towards religion, and to participate inthe performance of acts of worship and religious rituals and rites, which are not prohibited bythe law.

Article 32. Marriage, the family, motherhood, fatherhood, and childhood shall be underthe protection of the State.

On reaching the age of consent women and men shall have the right to enter into marriage on a voluntary basis and start a family. A husband and wife shall be equal in familyrelationships.

Parents or persons in loco parentis shall be entitled and required to raise their children andto take care of their health, development and education. No child shall be subjected to crueltreatment or humiliation or used for work that may be harmful to its physical, mental or moraldevelopment. Children shall care for their parents or persons in loco parentis and render them assistance.

Children may be separated from their family against the consent of their parents or personsin loco parentis only according to the verdict of the court of law, if the parents or persons inloco parentis fail in their duty towards their children.

Women shall be guaranteed equal rights with men in their opportunities to receiveeducation and vocational training, promotion in labour, socio-political, cultural and other spheres of activity, as well as in creating conditions safeguarding their labour and health.

The young people are guaranteed the right for their spiritual, moral and physicaldevelopment.

The State shall create all necessary conditions for the free and effective participation of theyoung people in the political, social, economic and cultural development of society.

Article 33. Everyone is guaranteed freedom of thoughts and beliefs and their freeexpression.

No one shall be forced to express one's beliefs or to deny them. No monopolization of themass media by the State, public associations or individual citizens and no censorship shall bepermitted.

Article 34. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall be guaranteed the right to receive,store and disseminate complete, reliable and timely information of the activities of state bodies and public associations, on political, economic, cultural and international life, and onthe state of the environment.

State bodies, public associations and officials shall afford citizens of the Republic ofBelarus an opportunity to familiarize themselves with material that affects their rights andlegitimate interests.

The use of information may be restricted by legislation with the purpose to safeguard thehonour, dignity, personal and family life of the citizens and the full implementation of their rights.

Article 35. The freedom to hold assemblies, rallies, street marches, demonstrations andpickets that do not disturb law and order or violate the rights of other citizens of the Republicof Belarus, shall be guaranteed by the State. The procedure for conducting the above eventsshall be determined by the law.

Article 36. Everyone shall be entitled to freedom of association.

Judges, employees of the Procurator's Office, the staff of bodies of internal affairs, theState Supervisory Committee and security bodies, as well as service-men may not be members of political parties or other public associations that pursue political goals.

Article 37. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall have the right to participate in the solution of state matters, both directly and through freely elected representatives.

The direct participation of citizens in the administration of the affairs of society and theState shall be safeguarded by the holding of referenda, the discussion of draft laws and issues of national and local significance, and by other means specified in law.

In instances determined by the law the citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall take part in

the discussion of issues of state and public life at republican and local meetings.

Article 38. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall have the right to vote freely and to beelected to state bodies on the basis of universal, equal, direct or indirect suffrage by secretballot.

Article 39. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus, in accordance with their capabilities andvocational training, shall be entitled to equal access to any post in state bodies.

Article 40. Everyone shall have the right to address personal or collective appeals to statebodies.

State bodies, as well as the officials thereof, shall consider any appeal and furnish a replyin point of substance within the period specified in law. Any refusal to consider an appeal thathas been submitted shall be justified in writing.

Article 41. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall be guaranteed the right to work as theworthiest means of an individual's self-assertion, that is, the right to choose of one's profession, type of occupation and work in accordance with one's vocation, capabilities,education and vocational training, and having regard to social needs, and the right to healthyand safe working conditions.

The State shall create conditions necessary for full employment of the population. Where aperson is unemployed for reasons which are beyond one's control, he shall be guaranteed training in new specializations and an upgrading of his qualifications having regard to socialneeds, and to an unemployment benefit in accordance with the law.

Citizens shall have the right to protection of their economic and social interests, including the right to form trade unions and conclude collective contracts (agreements), and the right tostrike.

Forced labour shall be prohibited, other than work or service specified in the verdict of acourt of law or in accordance with the law on the state of emergency or martial law.

Article 42. Employees shall be guaranteed a just share of remuneration for the economicresults of their labour in accordance with the quantity, quality and social significance of such work, but it shall not be less than the level which shall ensure them and their families a life ofindependence and dignity.

Women and men and adults and minors shall be entitled to equal remuneration for work ofequal value.

Article 43. Working people shall be entitled to holidays. For employees, this right shall be

safeguarded by the establishment of a working week of no more than 40 hours, shorterworking hours at night and the provision of an annual paid leave and weekly rest days.

Article 44. The State shall guarantee everyone the right of property and shall contribute toits acquisition.

A proprietor shall have the right to possess, enjoy and dispose of assets either individuallyor jointly with others. The inviolability of property and the right to inherit property shall be protected by law.

Property acquired in accordance with the law shall be safeguarded by the State.

The State shall encourage and protect the savings of citizens and guarantee conditions forthe return of deposits.

The compulsory alienation of assets shall be permitted only by reason of public need,under the conditions and the procedure specified by law, with timely and full compensationfor the value of the alienated assets, and in accordance with a ruling of a court of law.

The exercise of the right of property shall not be contrary to social benefit and security, orbe harmful to the environment or historical and cultural treasures, or infringe upon the rightsand legally protected interests of others.

Article 45. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall be guaranteed the right to health care,including free treatment at state health-care establishments. The State shall make health carefacilities accessible to all of its citizens. The right of citizens of the Republic of Belarus to health care shall also be secured by the development of physical training and sport, measuresto improve the environment, the opportunity to use fitness establishments and improvementsin occupational safety.

Article 46. Everyone shall be entitled to a conducive environment and to compensation forloss or damage caused by the violation of this right.

The State shall supervise the rational utilization of natural resources to protect and improveliving conditions, and to preserve and restore the environment.

Article 47. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall be guaranteed the right to socialsecurity in old age, in the event of illness, disability, loss of fitness for work and loss of abread-winner and in other instances specified in law.

The State shall display particular concern for veterans of war and labour, as well as forthose who lost their health in the defence of national and public interests.

Article 48. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall be entitled to housing. This right shall be safeguarded by the development of state, and private housing and assistance for citizens inthe acquisition of housing.

The State and local self-government shall grant housing free of charge or at availablepri

ticle 49. Everyone shall have the right to education. Accessible and free general,sec

le to all in accordance withthe

ticle 50. Everyone shall have the right to preserve one's ethnic affiliation, and equally,no

guage and to choose the language o

ces in accordance with the law to citizens who are in need of social protection. No one maybe deprived of housing arbitrarily.

Arondary and vocation-technical education shall be guaranteed.

Secondary specialized and higher education shall be accessib capabilities of each individual. Everyone may, on a competitive basis, obtain the

appropriate education at state educational establishments free of charge.

Ar one may be compelled to define or indicate one's ethnic affiliation.

Insults to ethnic dignity shall be prosecuted by law.

Everyone shall have the right to use one's native lan f co

ticle 51. Everyone shall have the right to take part in cultural life. This right shall be saf

mmunication. In accordance with the law, the State shall guarantee the freedom to choosethe language of education and teaching.

Areguarded by universal accessibility to the treasures of domestic and world culture that are

held in state and public collections and by the development of a network of cultural andeducational establishments.

Freedom of artistic, scientific and technical creativity and teaching shall be guaranteed.

f culture, scientific and technical researchfor

ticle 52. Everyone in the territory of the Republic of Belarus shall abide by itsCo

ticle 53. Everyone shall respect the dignity, rights, liberties and legitimate interests o

Intellectual property shall be protected by law.

The State shall contribute to the development o the benefit of common interests.

Arnstitution and laws and respect national traditions.

Ar foth

ticle 54. Everyone shall preserve the historical, cultural and spiritual heritage and othe

ers.

Ar rnational treasures.

Article 55. It shall be the duty of everyone to protect the environment.

ticle 56. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall contribute towards the funding o

Ar f public expenditure through the paym

ticle 57. It shall be the responsibility and sacred duty of every citizen of the Republic o

ent of state taxes, dues and other payments.

Ar fBelarus to defend the Republic of Belarus.

, the grounds and conditions for exemption frommilitary se

ticle 58. No one shall be compelled to discharge duties that are not specified in theConstitution

ticle 59. The State shall take all measures at its disposal to create the domestic an

The procedure governing military servicervice and the substitution thereof by alternative service shall be determined by the

law.

Ar of the Republic of Belarus and its laws or renounce his rights.

Ar dintern

entrusted to exercise statefunctions shall take necessary measures to implement and safeguard the rights and liberties o

ational order necessary for the exercise in full of the rights and liberties of the citizens of the Republic of Belarus that are specified in the Constitution.

State bodies, officials and other persons who have been f

and persons shall be held responsible for actions violating the rights an

the individual.

These bodies dliberties of an individual.

ticle 60. Everyone shall be guaranteed protection of one's rights and liberties by

Ar acom

ancewith the law

ticle 61. Everyone shall have the right in accordance with the international instrumentsratif

petent, independent and impartial court of law within time periods specified in law.

To defend their rights, liberties, honour and dignity, citizens shall be entitled in accord to recover, through the courts, both property damage and financial compensation

for moral injury.

Aried by the Republic of Belarus to appeal to international organizations to defend their

rights and liberties, provided all available interstate means of legal defence have been exhausted.

Article 62. Everyone shall have the right to legal assistance to exercise and defend hisrights and liberties, including the right to man

ake use, at any time, of the assistance of lawyersd one's other representatives in court, other state bodies, bodies of local government,

enterprises, establishments, organizations and public associations, and also in relations withofficials and citizens. In the instances specified in law, legal assistance shall be rendered from public funds.

Opposition to the rendering of legal assistance shall be prohibited in the Republic ofBelarus.

Ary be suspended only during a state of e

ticle 63. The exercise of the personal rights and liberties specified in this Constitutionma mergency or martial law under the procedure and wi

tion may not be restricted

rticle 64. The elections of deputies and other persons elected to state office by the peopleshall be universal: citizens of the Republic of Belarus who have reached the age of 18 shall be eli

thin the limits specified in the Constitution and the law.

In carrying out special measures during a state of emergency, the rights specified in Article24, part three of Article 25 and Articles 26 and 31 of the Constitu

Section 3. Electoral System. Referendum

Chapter 1. Electoral System

A

gible to vote.

Citizens who are deemed incapable by a court of law or held in places of confinement inaccordance with the verdict of a court shall not take part in elections. Persons in respect ofwhom preventive punishment-detention is selected under the procedure specified in the lawon criminal proceedings shall not take part in voting. Any direct or indirect restrictions oncitizens' voting rights in other instances shall be impermissible and punishable by law.

The age qualification of deputies and other persons elected to state positions shall bedetermined by corresponding laws, unless otherwise provided by the Constitution.

Article 65. Elections shall be free. A voter shall decide personally whether to take part in elections and for whom to vote. The preparation and conduct of elections shall be open and inpu

ticle 66. Elections shall be held according to the principle of equal suffrage. Votersshall have equal number of votes.

ffice shall take part in elections on an equal basis.

ticle 67. Elections of deputies shall be direct. Deputies shall be elected by citizensdirectly.

blic.

Ar

Candidates standing for public o

Ar

Article 68. Voting at elections shall be secret. The monitoring of voters' preferences while voting is in progress shall be prohibited.

ticle 69. Public associations, work collectives and citizens shall have the right tonom in accordance with the law.

ticle 70. Expenditure incurred in the preparation and conduct of elections shall be covered by the State within the

Arinate candidates for deputy

Arlimits of the funds assigned for that purpose. In instances

determined by the law, the expenditure for the preparation and conduct of elections may becarried out at the expense of public associations, enterprises, offices, organizations andcitizens.

Article 71. Elections shall be conducted by electoral commissions, unless otherwisespecified in the Constitution.

e conduct of elections shall be determined The procedure governing th by the laws of the Republic of Belarus.

e held during a state of emergency or martial law.

ticle 72. The recall of deputies shall be exercised to the order and instances asdeterm

call of a deputy shall be exercised to the order determined for theelection of

mber of the Council of the Republic shall be determ

Chapter 2. Referendum (Plebiscite)

rticle 73. National and local referenda may be held to resolve the most important issuesof the State and society.

ticle 74. National referenda shall be called on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Belarus, as well as on the initiative of the Council of the Republic or House o

No elections shall b

Arined by the law.

The voting for the re the deputy, and on the initiative of no less than 20 percent of the citizens eligible

to vote and resident in the corresponding area.

The reason and order for the recall of a meined by the law.

A

Arf

Representatives, which is taken at their separate sittings by a majority of the full number ofdeputies of each house, or on the initiative of no fewer than 450,000 citizens eligible to vote,including no fewer than 30,000 citizens from each of the regions (oblasts) and city of Minsk.

The President shall call a national referendum after its submission by the Council of the

Re

f the referendum shall be no later than three months since the President issue

public and House of Representatives in accordance with the law, or by the citizensthemselves.

The date o dthe

al referendum shall be signed by the President of theRe

ticle 75. Local referenda shall be called by the relevant local representative bodies o

decree on holding a referendum.

The decisions taken by the nationpublic of Belarus.

Ar nthe

ticle 76. Referenda shall be conducted by means of universal, free, equal and secre

ir initiative or on the recommendation of no less than ten percent of the citizens who are eligible to vote and resident in the area concerned.

Ar tba

ticle 77. The decisions adopted by referendum may be reversed or amended only byme

ticle 78. The procedure governing the conduct of national and local referenda and a lis

llot. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus eligible to vote shall take part in referenda.

Arans of another referendum, unless otherwise specified by the referendum.

Ar tof

Section 4. The President, Parliament, Government, the Courts

Article 79. The President of the Republic of Belarus shall be the Head of State, the gu

issues that may not be put to a referendum shall be determined by the law of the Republicof Belarus.

Chapter 3. The President of the Republic of Belarus

arantor of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the rights and liberties of man andcitizen.

The President shall personify the unity of the nation, the implementation of the maingu

shall be protected by the law

ticle 80. Any citizen of the Republic of Belarus by birth at least 35 years of age who iseli

idelines of the domestic and foreign policy, shall represent the State in the relations withother states and international organizations. The President shall provide the protection of thesovereignty of the Republic of Belarus, its national security and territorial integrity, shall ensure its political and economic stability, continuity and interaction of bodies of state power,shall maintain the intermediation among the bodies of state power.

The President shall enjoy immunity, and his honour and dignity.

Argible to vote and has been resident in the Republic of Belarus for at least ten years to the

ele

The President shall be elected directly by the people of the Republic of Belarusfor a term of office of five years by universal, free, equal, direct and secret ballot.

r to the expire of the term o

ctions may be elected President.

Article 81.

Presidential candidates shall be nominated by citizens of the Republic of Belarus where thesignatures of no less than 100,000 voters have been collected.

Presidential elections shall be called by the House of Representatives no later than fivemonths and shall be conducted no later than two months prio foff

from the day on which the office fell vacant.

The elections shall be deemed to have taken place where over half the citizens of the Republic of Belarus on the electoral roll have taken part in the poll.

ice of the previous President.

Where the office of the President becomes vacant, elections shall be held no sooner than30 days and no later than 70 days,

Article 82.

The President shall be deemed elected where over half the citizens of the Republic ofBelarus who took part in the poll voted for him.

Where no candidate polls the requisite number of votes, within two weeks a second roundof voting shall be conducted between the two candidates who obtained the largest number ofvotes. The presidential candidate who obtains more than half the votes of those who took part in the second poll shall be deemed to be elected.

The procedure governing the conduct of presidential elections shall be determined by thelaw of the Republic of Belarus.

Article 83. The President shall assume office after taking the following Oath:

ly swear tofai e rights an

"Assuming the office of President of the Republic of Belarus, I solemnthfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, to respect and safeguard th d

liberties of man and citizen, to abide by and protect the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, and to discharge strictly and conscientiously the lofty duties that have been bestowedupon me".

The Oath shall be administered in a ceremonial setting attended by members of the Houseof Representatives and the Council of the Republic, the judges of the Constitutional, Supreme and Economic Courts no later than two months from the day on which the President iselected. The powers of the previous President shall terminate the moment the President-elect takes the Oath.

Article 84. The President of the Republic of Belarus shall:

1) call national referenda;

2) call regular and extraordinary elections to the House of Representatives, the Council ofthe Republic and local

t to the order and instances determined by theConstitution

ix members of the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus on Electionsand National Referenda;

reorganize the Administration of the President of the Republic o

representative bodies;

3) dissolve the chambers of the Parliamen;

4) appoint s

5) form, dissolve and f Belarus, other bodies of state administration, as well as consultative advisory councils, otherbodies attached to the Presidency;

6) appoint the Prime minister of the Republic of Belarus with the consent of the House ofRepresentatives;

e structure of the Government of the Republic of Belarus, appoint an7) determine th ddism

e Chairperson of theConstitution

e an

iss the deputy Prime ministers, ministers and other members of the Government, take thedecision on the resignation of the Government, or any of its members;

8) appoint with the consent of the Council of the Republic thal, Supreme and Economic Courts from among the judges of these courts;

9) appoint with the consent of the Council of the Republic the judges of the Suprem dEconomEle

ic Courts, Chairperson of the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus onctions and National Referenda, the Procurator-General, the Chairperson and members of

the Governing Board of the National Bank;

10) appoint six members of the Constitutional Court, and other judges of the Republic of Belarus;

miss the Chairperson and judges of the Constitutional, Supreme and EconomicCourts, the Chairperson of the Central Commission of the Republic of Belarus on Elections

11) dis

and National Referenda, the Procurator-General, the Chair-person and members of the Board of the National Bank to the order and instances determined by the law and to the notificationof the Council of the Republic;

12) appoint and dismiss the Chairperson of the State Supervisory Committee;

e nation an13) deliver messages to the people of the Republic of Belarus on the state of th don the guidelines of the dom

hich are not open to discussion at thesittings of the House of Representatives

estic and foreign policy;

14) deliver annual messages to the Parliament wand Council of the Republic; have the right to

pa

eetings of the Government of the Republic of Belarus;

us;appoint official representatives of the Presidenoff

elarus, the

rticipate in the sessions of Parliament and its bodies; deliver speeches and addresses toParliament at any requested time;

15) have the right to chair the m

16) appoint leading officials of bodies of state administration and determine their statt in the Parliament and other officials whose

ices are determined by the law, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution;

17) resolve issues regarding the granting of citizenship of the Republic of B

ter

bestow state awards, ranks and titles;

rnational treaties, appoint and recall diplomaticrep

he credentials and letters of recall of the accredited diplomatic representativesof

f a natural disaster, a catastrophe, or unrest involving violence or thethr

mination thereof and the granting of asylum;

18) institute state holidays and red-letter days,

19) grant pardons to convicted citizens;

20) conduct negotiations and sign interesentatives of the Republic of Belarus in foreign countries and at international

organizations;

21) receive tforeign countries;

22) in the event oeat of violence on the part of a group of persons or organizations that endangers peoples

lives and health or jeopardizes the territorial integrity and existence of the State, declare astate of emergency in the territory of the Republic of Belarus or in specific areas thereof andsubmit the decision to the Council of the Republic for approval within three days;

23) have the right, in instances specified in the law, to defer a strike or suspend it for ape

o the order determined by the Constitution to return it o

riod not exceeding three months;

24) sign bills and have the right t r som

ormed bodies of observance of lawsby

blic of Belarus, and appoint an

e of its provisions with the objections to the House of Representatives;

25) have the right to abolish acts of the Government;

26) exercise supervision directly or through specially f local organs of administration or self-government and have the right to suspend decisions

of local councils of deputies, or abolish decisions of local executive and administrative bodieswhere they do not conform to the requirements of the law;

27) form and head the Security Council of the Repu ddis

rces of the Republic of Belarus; appoin

miss the State Secretary of the Security Council;

28) be the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Fo tan

artial law in the territory of theRe

d dismiss the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces;

29) impose, in the event of military threat or attack, mpublic of Belarus and announce general or partial mobilization with the submission within

3 days of the taken decision for approval of the Council of the Republic;

30) exercise other powers entrusted to him by the Constitution and the laws.

ticle 85. The President shall issue decrees and orders on the basis and in accordancewi

h havethe

Arth the Constitution which are mandatory in the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

In instances determined by the Constitution, the President shall issue decrees whic force of the law. The President shall ensure directly or through specially formed bodies

the execution of the decrees, orders and instructions.

Article 86. The President may not hold other offices or receive any monetaryrem

associations that pursue political go

ticle 87. The President may tender his resignation at any time. The President'sresignation shall be accepted by

ticle 88. The President of the Republic of Belarus may be prematurely removed from off

uneration other than his salary, apart from royalties for works of science, literature and art.

The President shall suspend his membership of political parties and other publicals during the whole term in office.

Arthe House of Representatives.

Arice where he is persistently incapable to discharge his duties on account of the state of his

health. The issue of removing the President shall be taken by a resolution of the House ofRepresentatives adopted by a majority of no less than two-thirds of the elected deputies as determined by the Constitution and a majority of no less than two-thirds of the full composition as determined by the Constitution of the Council of the Republic on the basis ofthe findings of an ad hoc Commission formed by the Chambers of the Parliament.

The President may be removed from office for acts of state treason and other grave crimes.The decision to file a charge against the President shall be supported by a majority of thewhole House of Representatives on behalf of no less than one-third of the number of deputies. The investigation of the charge shall be exercised by the Council of the Republic. ThePresident shall be deemed to be removed from office if the decision is adopted by no less than two-thirds of the full composition of the Council of the Republic, and no less than two-thirds of the full House of Representatives.

The failure of the Council of the Republic and House of Representatives to take a decisionto rem

nnection with the commission of a crime, the caseshall be exa

ticle 89. Whether the office of President falls vacant or the President is unable to dischargtra

rticle 90. The Parliament - the National Assembly is a representative and legislativebody of the Republic of Belarus.

f two chambers - the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic.

ove the President from office within a month since it was initiated shall make the moveinvalid. The move to remove the President from office may not be initiated in accordancewith the provision of the Constitution in the course of the hearings on the prematuretermination of the powers of Parliament.

Where the President is removed in comined on the merits of the charge by the Supreme Court.

Are his duties to the order as determined by the Constitution, his power shall be

nsferred to the Prime Minister until the President-elect is sworn in.

Chapter 4. The Parliament - The National Assembly

A

The Parliament shall consist o

Article 91. The House of Representatives shall consist of 110 deputies. The election ofde

. The Councilof

puties to the House of Representatives shall be carried out in accordance with the law onthe basis of universal, equal, free, direct electoral suffrage and by secret ballot.

The Council of the Republic shall be a chamber of territorial representationthe Republic shall consist of eight deputies from every region (oblast) and the city of

Minsk, elected at the meetings of deputies of local Councils of deputies of base level of everyregion (oblast) and the city of Minsk from their ranks. Eight members of the Council of theRepublic shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

Elections for a new composition of the chambers of Parliament shall be set no later thanfou

ary elections for the chambers of the Parliament shall be held within threemo

ticle 92. Any citizen of the Republic of Belarus who has reached the age of 21 maybe

reached the age of 30, and who has beenres

owers in the Parliament ona p

Parliament. Ame

r months and held no later than 30 days prior to the expire of the powers of the currentParliament.

Extraordinnths since the premature expire of the powers of the chambers of the Parliament.

Arcome a deputy of the House of Representatives.

Any citizen of the Republic of Belarus who hasident on the territory of a corresponding region (oblast), or the city of Minsk no less than

five years may become a member of the Council of the Republic.

A deputy of the House of Representatives shall exercise one's professional basis unless otherwise is determined by the Constitution. A deputy of the

House of Representatives may simultaneously be member of the Government.

No person may be simultaneously a member of both chambers of the mber of the House of Representatives may not be a member of a local Council of deputies.

A member of the Council of the Republic may not be simultaneously a member of theGovernment. No person may exercise one's duties as a member of the House ofRepresentatives, or member of the Council of the Republic and simultaneously hold the office of President or a judge.

Article 93. The term of the Parliament shall be four years. The powers of the Parliamentma

ctions shall be called by the Central Co

y be extended by law only in the event of a war.

The first session of Parliament after the elemmission on Elections and National Referenda and shall be convened no later than 30 days

after the elections. The countdown of the thirty day period for calling and beginning of thefirst session of the House of Representatives shall start from the day of the second round ofelections for the new Parliament. If the second round of elections for the House ofRepresentatives is not held, then the countdown of the thirty day period shall start from theday of the first round of general elections in the Republic of Belarus. The countdown of thethirty day period for calling and convening the first session of the Council of the Republicshall start from the day of the first meeting of the deputies of the local Councils of deputies of

base level for the elections of the members of the Council of the Republic from the regions(oblasts) or the city of Minsk.

The powers of the House of Representatives or the Council of the Republic may beter

The powers of the House of Representatives may be terminated prematurelywh

minated prematurely to the order as determined by the Constitution. With the terminationof the powers of the House of Representatives or the Council of the Republic, the Presidentmay take the decision to terminate the powers of the House of Representatives or the Councilof the Republic consequently.

Article 94. ere no confidence is expressed or a non-confidence vote is expressed to the Government,

or where the House fails twice to give its consent for the appointment of the Prime Minister.

The powers of the House of Representatives or the Council of the Republic may bepre

s withthe

e of emergency or martial law, in the lastsix

ar since the first sittingswe

Article 95. The chambers shall hold their regular sessions twice a year. The first sessionsha

begin its proceedingson

The House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic may in instances of urgen

maturely terminated in accordance with the conclusion of the Constitutional Court due tosystematic and gross violation of the Constitution by the chambers of the Parliament.

The decision to this issue shall be taken by the President after official consultation Chairs of the chambers.

The chambers may not be dissolved during a stat months of the term of office of the President, in the course of proceedings of both

chambers on the premature removal of the President from office.

Both chambers may not be dissolved in the course of the first yere held.

ll open on 2 October; its duration may not exceed 80 days. The second session shall openon 2 April and its duration may not exceed 90 days.

If 2 October or 2 April is a non-working day, then the session shall the first following day after the said non-working day.

tne

rdinary sessions shall be called by the decrees of the President.

The House of Representatives shall elect from the ranks of the deputies theCh

the ranks of senators the Chairperson of theCo

tatives and the Council of the Republic, thei

cessity be convened for an extraordinary session to the request of the President, or initiativeof no less than a two-thirds majority of the full composition of every chamber for a specialagenda.

The extrao

Article 96. airperson of the House and the deputy.

The Council of the Republic shall elect fromuncil of the Republic and the deputy.

The Chairpersons of the House of Represen rdeputies shall conduct the proceedings and shall be in charge of the regulations of the

operation of the chambers.

The House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic shall elect from the ranks of the

The House of Representatives shall:

ident or submitted by no less than 150tho

estic and foreign policy of theRe

deputies standing committees and other bodies to draft laws, give preliminaryconsideration to, and prepare issues that fall within the jurisdiction of the chambers.

Article 97.

1) consider draft laws put forward by the Presusand citizens of the Republic of Belarus, who are eligible to vote, to make amendments

and alterations in the Constitution and give its interpretation;

2) consider draft laws, including the guidelines of the dompublic of Belarus; the military doctrine; ratification and denunciation of international

treaties; the fundamental concept and principles of execution of rights, liberties and duties of its citizens; citizenship issues, the status of foreigners and persons without citizenship; therights of ethnic minorities: the approval of the budget of the republic and the account on itsimplementation; the introduction of national taxes and dues; the principles of ownership; the basics of social security; the principles regulating labour and employment, marriage, thefamily, childhood, maternity, paternity, education, upbringing, culture and public health;environmental protection and the rational utilisation of natural resources; determination of the procedure for resolving issues relating to the administrative-territorial structure of the State; local self-government; the administration of justice and the status of judges; issues of criminalresponsibility and amnesty; declaration of war and conclusion of peace; martial law and astate of emergency; institution of state awards; interpretation of laws;

3) call elections for the Presidency;

4) grant consent to the President concerning the appointment of the Prime minister;

or

6) consider on the initiative of the Prime minister a call for a vote of confidence;

5) consider the report of the Prime minister on the policy of the Government and approvereject it; a second rejection by the House of the policy of the Government shall be deemed

as an expression of non-confidence to the Government;

7) on the initiative of no less than one-third of the full composition of the House of Re

ent;

position of the House of Representatives to for

presentatives express a non-confidence vote to the Government; the issue of liability of the Government may not be discussed in the course of the year after the approval of theProgramme of government policy;

8) accept the resignation of the Presid

9) be entitled with a majority of the full comward charges of treason or of some other grave crime against the President; on the basis of

the decision of the Council of the Republic and with no less than a two-thirds majority of the full composition of the House take the decision to remove the President from office;

10) cancel the order of the Chairperson of the House of Representatives. The House ofRepresentatives may take decisions on other issues which are determined by the Constitution.

Article 98. The Council of the Republic shall:

House of Representatives with regard toalterations and addenda to the Constitution;

or the appointment by the President of the Chairperson of the Constitution

1) approve or reject draft laws adopted by theand on the interpretation of the Constitution, as

well as other draft laws;

2) give its consent fal Court, Chairperson and judges of the Supreme Court, the Chairperson and

judges of the Supreme Economic Court, the Chairperson of the Central Commission onElections and National Referenda, the Procurator-General, the Chairperson and members of the National Bank;

3) elect six judges of the Constitutional Court;

on Elections and National Referenda;

llyand flagrantly violates the requirem

4) elect six members of the Central Commission

5) reverse decisions of local Councils of deputies which do not conform to legislation;

6) adopt resolution on the dissolution of local Council of deputies where it systematicaents of the law and other instances determined by the law;

7) consider charges of treason or of some other grave crime forwarded by the House ofRepresentatives against the President and take decision on its investigation. Given thepresence of substantial evidence take the decision to remove the President from office with noless than two-thirds of the full composition of the House;

8) consider Presidential decrees on the introduction of a state of emergency, martial law,general or

e Republic may take decisions on other issues determined by theConstitution

ticle 99. The right of legislative initiative shall belong to the President, members of theHouse of Representatives, C

partial mobilisation no later than three days after their submission and take theappropriate decision.

The Council of th.

Arouncil of the Republic, Government, as well as to citizens who

are eligible to vote, in a number of no less than 50,000, and is implemented in the House ofRepresentatives.

Draft laws the adoption of which may reduce state resources, or increase expenditures maybe introduced in the House of Representatives only

gnment the Government shall have the right to forwar

with the consent of the President or to hisassignment by the Government.

The President or to his assi dproposals in the House of Representatives and Council of the Republic on the urgency of

e House o

consideration of a draft law. The House of Representatives and Council of the Republic shallconsider in the instance the latter in the course of ten days since its submission.

To the request of the President or to his consent the Government, th f Representatives and Council of the Republic shall take decisions at their sessions voting ingeneral for the whole draft law or a part of it, which was forwarded by the President orGovernment preserving only those amendments which were forwarded or accepted by the President or Government.

Article 100. Any bill, unless otherwise specified by the Constitution, shall be initiallyconsidered in the House of Representatives and then in the Council of the Republic.

A bill, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution, shall become a law after its approvalby a majority of votes of the full composition of the House of Representatives and the Councilof

within five days, where they shall be considered within no more than twentyda

ncil of the Republic has been cast for it,or

that the House of Representatives take a finalde

rticle adopted by the House o

the Republic.

Bills adopted by the House of Representatives shall be sent to the Council of the Republic for consideration

ys unless otherwise specified in the Constitution.

A bill shall be deemed to have been approved by the Council of the Republic provided thata majority of votes of the full composition of the Cou

if within twenty days, and in instances of urgency within ten days since its submission, theCouncil of the Republic failed to consider it. If the bill is rejected by the Council of the Republic, both chambers may form a conciliation commission on a parity basis to overcomethe existing differences. The text of the bill drafted by the conciliatory commission shall besubmitted for approval to both chambers.

If the conciliatory commission fails to draft a compromise bill, the President or on hisassignment the Government may request

cision. The bill shall be deemed to have been adopted by the House of Representatives if noless than two-thirds of its full composition has voted for it.

A bill adopted by the House of Representatives and approved by the Council of theRepublic, or in the instance determined by the present a fRe

all consider it with the President'sob

presentatives shall be submitted to the President for signature within ten days. If thePresident is in agreement with the bill, he shall sign it. If the President does not return the billwithin two weeks since its submission, it shall be deemed to have been signed by thePresident. The bill shall not be deemed to have been signed and shall be invalid if it failed tobe returned to Parliament due to the end of the session.

If the President does not agree with the text of the bill, he shall return it together with hisobjections to the House of Representatives, which sh

jections within thirty days. If the bill has been adopted by the House of Representatives byno less than two-thirds of its full composition, it together with the President's objections and within five days shall be submitted to the Council of the Republic, which shall consider it fora second hearing within twenty days. The bill shall be deemed to have been approved if noless than two-thirds of the full composition of the Council of the Republic has voted for it. The bill, after the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic have overrun thePresident's objections, shall be signed by the President within five days. The bill shall becomea law even if it is not signed by the President within the assigned time.

The President's objections to the provisions of the bill, which are returned for a secondhearing, shall be considered to the same order. In this instance, prior to the appropriatedecision of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic the bill shall besigned by the President and become a law without the provisions which have been rejected bythe President.

Article 101. To the proposal of the President, the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic may adopt a law supported by a majority of the full composition ofboth chambers, delegating to him legislative powers to issue decrees which have the power ofa law. The latter shall determine the subject of the issue and the term of the powers of the President to issue such decrees.

There shall be no delegation of powers to the President to issue decrees which providealterations and addenda to the Constitution and its interpretation; alteration and addendum ofpolicy laws; the approval of the national budget and an account of its implementationalterations with regard to the election of the President and Parliament, limitation ofconstitutional rights and liberties of the citizens. The law on delegating legislative powers tothe President shall not permit him alteration of the said law, nor shall it permit to adoptregulations which are retroactive.

In instances of necessity the President may personally initiate or to the proposal of theGovernment may issue temporary decrees which have the power of law. If such decrees are issued on the initiative of the Government, they shall be signed by the Prime minister.Temporary decrees shall be submitted for further approval within three days of their adoptionto the House of Representatives, and then to the Council of the Republic. These decrees shallbe valid if they are not rejected by a majority of no fewer than two-thirds of votes of the full composition of both chambers. The chambers may regulate through legislation issues whichhave emerged due to decrees, which have been abolished.

Article 102. The deputies of the House of Representatives and members of the Council ofthe Republic shall enjoy immunity in the expression of their views and execution of theirpowers. This shall not refer to charges of slander and insult.

During the period they exercise their powers the deputies and the members of Council ofthe Republic may be arrested or deprived of personal liberty in other manner only with theprior consent of the appropriate chamber with the exception of instances of high treason, orsom

hambers in the instance of stateint sts, may take the decision to hold a closed session by majority of the full composition o

e other grave crime, as well as detention at the site where the crime was committed.

A criminal case involving a deputy of the House of Representatives or a member of theCouncil of the Republic shall be tried by the Supreme Court.

Article 103. Sittings of the chambers shall be open. The cere f

the corresponding chamber. The President, his representatives, the Prime minister andme

inc

mbers of the Government shall address the sessions out of turn as many times as they deemit necessary.

One sitting monthly shall be reserved for question time to the Government for the deputies of the Houses of Representatives and members of the Council of the Republic.

A deputy of the House of Representatives, or member of the Council of the Republic shallhave the right to make an inquiry to the Prime minister or members of the Government and the heads of state bodies which are formed or elected by Parliament. The inquiry shall be

luded in the agenda of the chamber. The answer to the inquiry shall be given within twentydays of the current session to the order determined by the chamber of the Parliament.

The sitting of the chamber shall be deemed qualified if no less than two-thirds of the number of elected deputies of the Houses of Representatives or members of the Council of theRepublic are present.

Voting in the House of Representatives and Council of the Republic shall be open andexercised by the deputy of the House or member of the Council of the Republic in person by a'yes' vote or a 'nay' vote. A secret vote shall be held only in the instance of addressingpe

cisions of the House of Representatives shall be taken by laws o

rsonnel issues.

Article 104. De renactments. Enactments of the House of Representatives shall be taken with regard to issuesof order and supervision.

ambers shall be deemed to have been adopted by a majority of theful

The decisions of the Council of the Republic shall be taken in the form of enactments.

The decisions of the chl composition of the chambers unless otherwise specified in the Constitution.

Laws with regard to basic guidelines of domestic and foreign policy of the Republic of

uties of both ch

to the same order therein.

05. The procedure governing the activities of the House of Representatives,Council of the Republic, the bodies thereof and the deputies and members of the Council o

Belarus and military doctrine thereof shall be considered of policy character and shall bedeemed to have been adopted provided that a two-thirds majority of elected dep

ambers has voted for them.

The laws shall be published immediately after their signature and shall become valid tendays after their publication unless the law determines another term. The decrees of thePresident shall come into force

The law shall have no retrospective action unless it extenuates or revokes the responsibilityof citizens.

Article 1f

the Republic shall be determined by the Rules of Procedure of the chambers, which shall besigned by the Chairpersons of the chambers.

Chapter 5. The Government - The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus

Article 106. Executive power in the Republic of Belarus shall be exercised by the Government - the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus - the central body of state administration.

The Government in its activity shall be accountable to the President of the Republic ofBelarus and responsible to the Parliament of the Republic of Belarus.

The Government shall relinquish powers to the President-elect of the Republic of Belarus.

The Government of the Republic of Belarus shall consist of the Prime minister, hisdeputies and ministers. The heads of other central bodies of state administration may be

me

Representatives rejects the submitted nomination of the Primemi

mbers of the Government.

The Prime minister shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus with theconsent of the House of Representatives. The decision to this order shall be taken by the House of Representatives within two weeks since the nomination of the candidacy of thePrime minister. If the House of

nister twice, the President shall appoint the acting Prime minister on his own, and dissolve the House of Representatives and call new elections.

The Prime minister shall manage the activities of the Government. The Prime ministershall:

1) manage directly the activities of the Government and hold personal responsibility for its act

gn the acts of the Government;

pointment, and in the instance of its rejection submit the second report on thePro o months;

ivities;

2) si

3) submit to Parliament a report on the Programme of the Government within two monthsafter his ap

gramme of the Government within tw

4) inform the President on the basic guidelines of the activities of the Government, and onall the most important decisions;

5) exercise other functions connected with the organization and activities of theGo

er therein shall be entitled to tender the resignation to thePre

ent.

vernment.

The Government or any membsident, if he deems it impossible to discharge the duties entrusted to him. The Government

shall tender its resignation to the President if the House of Representatives has passed a vote of no confidence to the Governm

The Prime minister may request from the House of Representatives a vote of confidencewith regard to the governmental Programme or any other issue submitted to the House. If anon-confidence vote is passed by the House of Representatives, the President shall be entitledto accept the resignation of the Government, or dissolve the House of Representatives withinten days, and call on holding new elections. If the resignation of the Government is rejected the latter shall continue to discharge its duties.

The President shall be entitled to take the decision on the resignation of the Governmenton his own initiative, and dismiss any member of the Government.

In the instance of the resignation of the Government of the Republic of Belarus or termination of its powers, the latter on the assignment of the President shall continue to holdoffice until a new Government shall have been formed.

Article 107. The Government of the Republic of Belarus shall:

administer the system of subordinate bodies of state administration and other executiveorgans;

, and take measures to itselaborate the basic guidelines of the domestic and foreign policy

im

ate and submit to the President for further parliamentary consideration the draf

plementation;

elabor t na

cution of a uniform economic, financial, credit and monetary policy, an

tional budget and an account of its implementation;

ensure the exe dstate policy in the field of science, culture, education, health care, ecology, social security and remuneration for labour;

take measures to secure the rights and liberties of citizens, safeguard the interests of thestate, national security and defence, protection of property, maintain public order andeliminate crime;

act on behalf of property owner with regard to assets which are the sole property of theRepublic of Belarus, and exercise management of state property;

ensure the implementation of the Constitution, the laws, decrees, edicts and instructions ofthe

ministration; exercise othe

President;

repeal acts of ministries and other central bodies of state ad rpo

shall issue orderswhich are under his jurisdiction. The competence of the Government and the proceduregoverning its activities shall be determined on the basis of the Constitution and the Law on the

Article 109. The courts shall exercise judicial power in the Republic of Belarus. The

wers entrusted to him by the Constitution, laws and acts of the President.

Article 108. The Government of the Republic of Belarus shall issue acts, that have binding force in the entire territory of the Republic of Belarus. The Prime minister

Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus.

Chapter 6. The Courts

judicial system shall be based upon l delineation and specialization.

The judicial system in the Republic of Belarus shall be determined by the law. Thefor

y interference in judges' activities in the administration of justice shall be impermissiblean

the principles of territoria

mation of special courts shall be prohibited.

Article 110. In administering justice judges shall be independent and subordinate to law alone.

And liable to legal action.

Article 111. Judges may not engage in business activities or perform any paid work, apartfrom teaching and scientific research.

e grounds for electing (appointing) judges and their dismissal shall be determined by thelaw.

Th

Article 112. The courts shall administer justice on the basis of the Constitution, the lawsan

fic case, a court concludes that an enforceable enactment iscontrary to the Constitution, it shall make a ruling in accordance with the Constitution an

d other enforceable enactments adopted in accordance therewith.

If, during the hearing of a specid

raise, under the established procedure, the issue of whether the enforceable enactment in question should be deemed unconstitutional.

Article 113. Cases before a court shall be tried collegially, and in the instances specified inlaw, by judges individually.

Article 114. The trial of cases in all courts shall be open. The hearing of cases in closed co

e. urt session shall be permitted only in the instances specified in law and in accordance with

all the rules of legal procedur

Article 115. Justice shall be administered on the basis of the adversarial proceedings and equality of the parties involved in the trial. The rulings of courts are mandatory for all citizensand officials.

The parties and the persons have the right to appeal rulings, sentences and other judicialdecision

Supervision of the constitutionality of enforceable enactments of the statesha

Belarus shall be formed of 12 judges fromam g highly qualified specialists in the field of law, who as a rule have a scientific degree.

hairperson of theConstitutional Court shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the Council of the

s.

Article 116. ll be exercised by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus.

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of on

Six Judges of the Constitutional Court shall be appointed by the President of the Republicof Belarus and six elected by the Council of the Republic. The C

Republic. The term of the members of the Constitutional Court shall be 11 years, and thepermissible age limit shall be 70 years.

The Constitutional Court on the recommendations of the President of the Republic of Belarus, the House of Representatives, the Council of the Republic, the Supreme Court of theRepublic of Belarus, the Supreme Economic Court of the Republic of Belarus, the Cabinet ofMinisters of the Republic of Belarus shall produce a ruling on:

the conformity of laws, decrees and edicts of the President, international agreements andother obligations of the Republic of Belarus to the Constitution and other instruments ofinternational law ratified by the Republic of Belarus;

the conformity of instruments of interstate formations of which the Republic of Belarus is

part, edicts of the President of the Republic of Belarus which are issued to the execution ofthe law, the Constitution, the laws, decrees and instruments of international law ratified by the Republic of Belarus;

the conformity of the decisions of the Council of Ministers and orders of the SupremeCourt, the Supreme Economic Court, Procurator-General to the Constitution, laws and instruments of international law ratified by the Republic of Belarus, laws, decrees and edicts;

the conformity of enactments of any other state body to the Constitution, laws and decreesas well as to the laws and instruments of international law ratified by the Republic of Belarus.

Enforceable enactments or their particular provisions which are consideredunconstitutional shall be deemed invalid to the order determined by the law.

In instances specified by the Constitution, the Constitutional Court with regard to theproposal of the President shall give its conclusion on the presence of instances of systematicor flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus by the chambers ofParliament.

The competence, organization and procedure governing the activities of the Constitutional Court shall be determined by the law.

Section 5. Local Government and Self-Government

local government and self-government through local councils of deputies, executive and administra ve bodies, bodies of public territorial self-government, local ation in state an

Article 117. Citizens shall exerciseti

referenda, assemblies and other forms of direct particip dpublic affairs.

Article 118. Local councils of deputies shall be elected by the citizens of the relevantadministrative-territorial units for a four-year term.

Article 119. The heads of local executive and administrative bodies shall be appointed anddismissed by the President of the Republic of Belarus or to the order determined by the latter,and their appointment shall be subject to the approval of the local councils of deputies.

Article 120. Local councils of deputies and executive and administrative bodies shall,within the limits of their competence, resolve issues of local significance, proceeding fromnational interests and the interests of the people who reside in the relevant territory, andim ment the decisions of higher state bodies. ple

Article 121. The following shall fall exclusively within the exclusive competence of thelocal councils of deputies:

the approval of programmes of economic and social development and local budgets and

accounts;

n the limits specified by law, of the procedure governing thema

ng of local referenda.

the setting of local taxes and dues in accordance with the law;

the determination, withinagement and disposal of municipal property;

the calli

Article 122. Local councils of deputies and executive and administrative bodies shall, onthe basis of existing laws, adopt decisions that have binding force in the relevant territory.

deputies that are contrary to the law shall be reversed byhigher representative bodies.

Decisions of local councils of

Decisions of local executive and administrative authorities that are contrary to the lawshall be reversed by the relevant councils of deputies, superior executive and administrativebodies and the President of the Republic of Belarus.

Decisions of local councils of deputies and their executive and administrative bodies thatrestrict or violate civil rights and liberties and the legitimate interests of citizens, and in other instances specified in law, may be challenged in a court of law.

Article 123. Where a local council of deputies systematically or flagrantly violates therequirements of the law, it may be dissolved by the Council of the Republic. Other grounds for the premature termination of the powers of local councils of deputies shall be determinedby the law.

Article 124. The competence and the procedure governing the establishment and activitiesof bodies of local government and self-government shall be determined by the law.

Section 6. The Procurator's Office. The State Supervisory Committee

Chapter 7. Procurator's Office

Article 125. The Procurator-General of the Republic of Belarus and subordinate public

prosecutodecrees, regulations and othe inisters and other bodiessubordinate to the Council of Ministers, as well as by local representative and executivebodies, enterprises, organizations, establishments, public associations, officials and citizens.

rs shall be entrusted to supervise the strict and unified implementation of the laws,r enforceable enactments by m

The Procurator's office shall exercise supervision over the implementation of the lawsdetermining the execution of the verdicts of the courts in civil, criminal and administrative cases in instances determined by the law, as well as shall carry out preliminary investigationand support state charges in the courts.

Article 126. The Procurator-General shall head the unified and centralized system ofbodies of the Procurator's office, and shall be appointed by the President with the consent ofthe Council of the Republic.

The subordinate public prosecutors shall be appointed by the Procurator-General.

resident.

The competence, organization and procedure governing the activities o

Article 127. The Procurator-General and subordinate public procurators shall be independent in the exercise of their powers and guided by the legislation. The Procurator-General shall be accountable to the P

Article 128. fbo

upervisory Committee

f the acts of the President, Parliament, Government and other state bodies overning public property relationships an

dies of the Procurator's office shall be determined by the law.

Chapter 8. The State S

Article 129. The Supervisory Authority shall monitor the implementation of the nationalbudget, the use of public property and the implementation o

g deconomic, financial an

ticle 131. The competence, organization and procedure governing the activities of theState Supervisory Committee shall be determined by the law.

resources of non-

d tax relations.

Article 130. The State Supervisory Committee shall be formed by the President. TheChairperson of the State Supervisory Committee shall be appointed by the President.

Ar

Section 7. Financial and Credit System of the Republic of Belarus

Article 132. The financial and credit system of the Republic of Belarus shall include thebudget system, the banking system, as well as the financial budget funds, funds of enterprises, establishments, organizations and citizens.

unifie tory of theRepublic of Belarus.

A d fiscal, tax, credit and currency policy shall be pursued in the terri

Article 133. The budget system of the Republic of Belarus shall include the nationalbudget and local budgets.

Budget revenue shall be raised from the taxes specified in law, other mandatory payments,as well as other receipts.

National expenditure shall be covered by the national budget on its expenditure side.

In accordance with the law, non-budgetary funds may be created in the Republic of Belarus.

Article 134. The procedure for drawing up, approving and implementing budgets andpu

A national account shall be submitted to the Parliament for consideration no later than five months from the end of the fiscal year in review.

blic non-budgetary funds shall be determined by the law.

Article 135.

Local accounts shall be submitted to the relevant councils of deputies for the considerationwithin time specified in law.

National and local accounts shall be published.

The banking system of the Republic of Belarus shall consist of the NationalBa

Article 136. nk of the Republic of Belarus and other banks. The National Bank shall regulate credit

relations and monetary circulation, determine the procedure for making payments and have an exclusiv

ection 8. The Application of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and the Procedure for Amending the Constitution

e right to issue money.

S

Article 137. The Constitution shall have the supreme legal force. Laws, decrees, edicts and other instruments of state bodies shall be promulgated on the basis of, and in accordance withthe Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.

Where there is a dis d the Constitution, theConstitution shall apply.

crepancy between a law, decree or edict an

Where there is a discrepancy between a decree or edict and a law, the law shall apply whenthe powers for the promulgation of the decree or edict were provided by the law.

Article 138. The issue of amending and supplementing the Constitution shall beconsidered by the chambers of the Parliament on the initiative of the President or of no fewerthan 150,000 citizens of the Republic of

ticle 139. A law on amending and supplementing the Constitution may be adopted afte

Belarus who are eligible to vote.

Ar r it has been debated and approved

The Constitution shall not be amended or su

twice by both chambers of the Parliament with at least athree months' interval.

pplemented by the Parliament during a state of

emergency or the last six months of the term of the House of Representatives.

opted where no less than two-thirds of the elected deputies of both cham

ision to amendor supplement the Constitution by means of a referendum shall be deemed adopted where

Article 140. The Constitution, laws on amendments and addenda thereto, on the entry intoforce of the said laws and instruments on the interpretation of the Constitution shall bedeemed to have been ad

bers of the Parliament have voted in favour of them.

The Constitution may be amended or supplemented via a referendum. A deca

ma ity of citizens on the electoral roll have voted in favour of it.

stitution) shall enter intofor

jor

Sections 1, 2, 4, 8 of the Constitution may be reconsidered only by means of a referendum.

Section 9. Final and Transitional Clauses

Article 141. The 1994 Constitution of the Republic of Belarus together with the alterationsand addenda, adopted at the national referendum (the present Con

ce on the day on which it is promulgated, apart from the specific provisions thereof, thatare to enter into force under the procedure and at the times specified in the presentConstitution. Simultaneously the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the ProcedureGoverning the Entry into Force of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus" shall cease toapply.

Article 142. The laws, decrees and other acts which were applied in the territory of theRepublic of Belarus prior to the entry into force of the present Constitution shall apply in theparticular parts thereof that are not contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.

Article 143. Within a month of the entry into force of the Constitution of the Republic ofBelarus the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus and the President of the Republic ofBelarus shall form the House of Representatives from among the deputies of the SupremeCouncil who were elected by the appointed date of the referendum held in 1996. The deputiesof the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus shall retain their powers within the termstipulated by the present Constitution. The term of their powers shall be assessed from the dayon which the present Constitution enters into force.

The Council of the Republic shall be formed to the order specified in Article 91 of thepresent Constitution.

If within the assigned time the House of Representatives is not formed due to controversiesbetween the President and the Supreme Council, the former shall in accord with clauses 2 and3 of Article 84 of the present Constitution dissolve the Supreme Council and call on new elections to Parliament.

Article 144. The President of the Republic of Belarus shall retain his powers. The term of

his

ernment of the Republic of Belarus shall exercise its duties an

powers shall be assessed from the day on which the present Constitution enters into force.

Article 145. The Gov d powers from the day on which the present Constitution enters into force.

present Constitution enters into force shall form assigned bodies of power to the order as determined by the present Constitution, unless otherwise specified by part 3 of Article 143 o

Article 146. The President, Parliament and the Government within two months since the

fthe

27 November 1996

Minsk

*unofficial translation*

Constitution.

President

of the Republic of Belarus A.Lukashenko